title: An application of the D-optimal criterion to define the experimental design for a particular class of semi-parametric models.
abstract: An updated version of the computer program EXCAD [1] allows the user to optimize experimental design to estimate parameters of particular semi-parametric models. The semi-parametric models take the general form of a function of time (t): Y(t) = NL (c(t,alpha),beta). The function NL(C(t,alpha),beta), is, in general, a non-linear transformation of a function, C(t,alpha), that in turn is the convolution of two others. One of these two functions is expressed in a non-parametric form, and is not of direct interest to the experimenter. The other is of direct interest: it is a parametric function depending on a set of parameters alpha. This semi-parametric model applies to numerous kinds of biological experiments, such as pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic, physiological, circulatory flow experiments. This paper presents a new method for determining an optimal experimental design to estimate the parameters alpha and beta. The new approach adopts the D-optimal criterion, and is illustrated using real thiopental data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Verotta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D008954:Models, Biological; D010599:Pharmacokinetics; D011381:Programming Languages; D051381:Rats; D012107:Research Design; D012984:Software; D013874:Thiopental / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D013874:Thiopental